Renewed fears have been expressed that the opening of a major Fife biomass plant could result in an increase in lorries travelling through a village.
Falkland resident John Todd, who lives on The Pleasance, said there were “growing road safety issues”, with evidence that heavy lorries were already taking an unauthorised route.
This year Fife Council offered assurances to Falkland Community Council about the proposed movement of traffic en route to the Tullis Russell plant in Glenrothes.
The fears were fuelled by the news that the biomass plant would be powered by wood chips provided by a farm near Abernethy.
The transport plan agreed with Fife Council indicates a route from Binn Farm to Gateside, then along the A91 through Auchtermuchty to Melville Lodges roundabout and up the A92 to Glenrothes.
The estimated traffic volume is of around one vehicle per hour. Residents of Freuchie have expressed their own concerns about road safety on the A92.
But Mr Todd said there was already “noticeable additional traffic” going through Falkland, close to the primary school, and he was concerned that this seemed to be associated with the biomass plant.
Howe of Fife councillor Andy Heer told The Courier: “Seeing as the biomass plant is not yet in operation, it seems strange that this problem should have already arisen.
“However, I am aware that lorries which appear to come from the Glenfarg plant have been seen going through Falkland and also through Giffordtown, whereas the approved route is via Auchtermuchty to Melville Lodges roundabout.
“The lorries appear to be exceptionally tall vehicles and there has been speculation that they can’t pass under the railway bridge at Collessie, which would make a nonsense of the planning condition pertaining to the approved route.
“I have been in discussion with Fife Council’s transportation department and the planning department about this and an enforcement officer has been appointed to look into it.
“I will be meeting representatives of the Glenfarg wood-chipping operation later this week and once again I will be tackling them about the route which their vehicles will be using once the biomass plant comes fully into operation.”
Fellow Howe of Fife councillor David MacDiarmid said: “I have suspected that this would be the case for a long time.
“The hard economic facts are that the trucks would save about 12 miles in fuel on a round trip. Add that saving up over a year, and that is the problem.
“We don’t want these trucks travelling through a village that’s streets were never built or intended for their use and, to that end, I am happy to speak with Fife Council’s head of transportation to discuss how this problem can be nipped in the bud before the biomass plant goes into full production.”
Richard Simmons, Fife Council lead officer, Transportation Development Management (North Fife), said: “A number of concerns have recently been raised by the public regarding routing of vehicles believed to be going to the new biomass plant at Tullis Russell.
“Fife Council is currently investigating this with RWE, the biomass plant operator, who have agreed to meet to discuss the traffic management of HGVs from Binn Farm.
“As the plant is not yet fully operational, it is in everyone’s best interest to address any issues at this time.”
A spokesman for RWE said: “There are currently no movements of material between SITA UK’s wood processing facility at Binn Farm and RWE.
“However, we appreciate local concerns about future vehicle movements and are committed to working with the communities in which we operate.
“We will be working closely with our client RWE and shall be seeking to meet with community representatives in Falkland to discuss their concerns.”